Over the past few months, I’ve shared my thoughts on the state of Scotland’s cultural sector through two articles for Sceptical Scot. As a group of cultural practitioners (through our creative work with Radio Magnetic, TRADtv and Walking Heads and a multitude of co-created projects), creative producers and content strategists, Inner Ear has always sat at the intersection of creativity and technology. Because of this, and through my work with the Scottish Music Industry Association (for whom I was chair from April 2016–March 2023), I have always been active in creative economy policy discussions.
1️⃣ How to Fix Scotland’s Cultural Funding Crisis: Here, I address the structural challenges faced by the cultural sector and argue for a new approach to valuing culture — one that goes beyond economics to embrace its social and environmental impacts.
2️⃣ Seven Steps to Save Scotland’s Creative Economy: This article lays out a bold £100M investment strategy that could deliver a five-fold ROI. From stabilising grassroots music venues to driving digital innovation, I explore how culture can be a cornerstone of Scotland’s economic recovery.
As campaigns like #InvestInCulture gather momentum, we must think strategically about how to use this moment to enact real change. Culture isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential to Scotland’s identity, economy and wellbeing. My articles outline why — and how — we can build a stronger, more sustainable future for Scotland’s creative economy.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. What’s your vision for Scotland’s cultural sector? How can we work together to make it happen? Why does it matter?
Read the full articles on Sceptical.Scot and join the discussion.